Magazine · Weddings
Wedding customs
Wedding customs, folk beliefs and superstitions.
What woman hasn't caught a bridal bouquet at a wedding at least once? But did you know that this belongs to a long line of wedding customs that has developed over the centuries? Every custom is based on a belief, which is no longer relevant in today's world, however – here it is all about the fun.
By: Henning Leweke – CC BY 2.0
Burning the trousers
On the stag night in the Münsterland region, the groom's trousers are often burned. This ritual is meant to show that the groom will no longer be the one wearing the trousers in the marriage from now on. The trousers are buried together with a bottle of Korn schnapps, dug up again after a year and the remaining schnapps drunk. This is meant to preserve the luck of the bridal couple.
Sawing through a log
On the wedding day, immediately after the ceremony, a log is sawn through by the newly married couple. This stands for equality, listening to one another and working together in the marriage.
By: Daniele Civello – CC BY 2.0
Polterabend
This custom dates back to pre-Christian times. On the day before the wedding it gets really loud! By smashing porcelain and earthenware, evil spirits are meant to be driven away. However, no glass may be smashed, as this brings bad luck. Finally, the bridal couple must sweep up the shards together.
The abduction of the bride
At some point during the evening after the wedding, the bride is "abducted" by their mutual friends and they visit various pubs with her. The groom searches for his bride and each time has to pay the abductors' bill until he finds her. This custom goes back to the Middle Ages. Back then the nobility had the right to deflower their female subordinates. The women were collected back then by the nobility's vassals.
The throwing of the bridal bouquet
The bride stands with her back to the unmarried women and throws her bouquet. The one who catches the bouquet is supposedly the next to marry. There are many more customs surrounding the wedding, but they all have one thing in common: they provide fun and make the celebration something special.
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